U.S., Poland Deploy Fighter Jets as Russia Intensifies Ukraine Assault

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Poland, one of NATO’s most steadfast allies, has once again scrambled its fighter jets amid a significant Russian offensive targeting Ukraine, marking the second deployment in just a week. The renewed action, launched overnight on Friday, highlights growing alarm along NATO’s eastern flank, where Russia’s ongoing aggression risks spilling over into allied territory.

The Polish Ministry of Defense confirmed the latest deployment, triggered by a coordinated wave of Russian drones and missiles pounding Ukrainian infrastructure. In a public statement posted on X, the ministry’s Operational Command announced: “All available forces and assets have been activated, with fighter jets scrambled and ground-based air defense and radar systems placed on the highest state of readiness.” Officials stressed that the measures are strictly defensive, aimed at securing Polish airspace, especially near Ukraine’s conflict zones.

The Russian strikes were widespread, hitting several Ukrainian regions, including Donetsk, Dnipro, Kherson, Sumy, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The scale of the attacks has drawn serious concern in Warsaw, which has consistently warned of broader regional implications if Moscow’s military campaign continues unchecked. A Polish Armed Forces spokesperson, speaking to Newsweek, emphasized that operational security prohibits disclosure of aircraft numbers or deployment locations.

This latest air readiness alert follows a similar mobilization just days earlier, when Poland reacted to Russian strikes near its border. While there’s no evidence of deliberate targeting of NATO territory, prior instances of stray missiles and drones entering Polish and Romanian airspace have forced alliance members to remain on constant alert. These events serve as stark reminders that the war’s volatility poses ongoing risks for neighboring nations.

The situation has grown even more tense with reports from Russian authorities that Ukraine launched another drone attack on Moscow, the third in as many nights. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that 13 drones were intercepted by air defenses early Saturday morning, with some downed northwest of the capital, roughly 23 miles from the city center.

Poland’s decisive response illustrates its vital role as both a NATO frontline state and a key supporter of Ukraine. The country has committed close to £2.6 billion in military aid to Kyiv as of late 2024, reinforcing its position as one of Europe’s most engaged defenders of regional stability. As Russia’s tactics grow more aggressive and unpredictable, Poland and, by extension, the broader NATO alliance, remain poised to act swiftly in defense of shared security interests.